Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Nayeo-ju Saves the World
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As Yu Myeong-hwa approached me, Kang Han stepped in front of her.
It seemed like an instinctive action.
One of his skills had blossomed, but even so, Kang Han couldn't win if Yu Myeong-hwa came at him with full intent right now.
Taking a critical wound would be a given, and he might even have to prepare for something worse.
But Kang Han's back, protecting me, stood firm.
"I just want to talk to Nayeo-ju-ssi."
"State your business first."
"What, isn't it obvious?"
Through the gap between Kang Han's arm and side, I could see Yu Myeong-hwa wiggling her fingers with a business card pinched between them.
"Kang Han-ssi, I think it'll be fine."
So step aside already.
You're blocking my view completely like a fridge.
"......Understood."
Kang Han stepped one pace to the side.
Then he handed the car keys to Lee Yu-chan, who had been awkwardly lingering nearby, and gave him instructions.
"Go wait in the car."
"Okay. Nayeo-ju noona! Hurry up and come. I'm hungry."
Ah, hunger's not something to ignore.
The conversation wouldn't drag on anyway, so I waved Lee Yu-chan off toward the car.
But Kang Han didn't go with him.
He stood tall in the spot he'd stepped aside to, like a tree rooted to the ground, staying vigilant so I could talk with Yu Myeong-hwa.
"Well then. Allow me to introduce myself properly. I'm Yu Myeong-hwa, guild master of the Camellia Guild."
Yu Myeong-hwa extended a business card printed on thick, luxurious hanji paper with a large camellia flower, speaking to me.
"Sure, but I don't have any business cards. Nothing to give you."
"That's fine. I already know plenty about you, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
It was a remark with a strange nuance.
But I'd already guessed they'd investigated my past when they came rushing to recruit me.
I shrugged it off nonchalantly.
"I think I know what you want to say without hearing it. You want me to join the Camellia Guild, right?"
"You already knew. I'm prepared to welcome you with the best terms any guild could offer. That's why I reached out, but I couldn't get through."
"I'm not interested."
Honestly, even if they brought hundreds of billions, it'd just be cyber money to me.
If I don't help Kang Han save this world from its end, it all vanishes anyway.
So of course I'm not interested.
"You're quite firm."
Yu Myeong-hwa tilted her head slightly and smiled.
Whoa, this sister's a dangerous one too.
Not just her looks, but that sexiness and the laid-back confidence unique to the strong—it's especially alluring.
She could seduce anyone if she wanted?
But not me.
"I have to be firm. That way, you won't waste any more time on me, Yu Myeong-hwa-ssi."
"I just can't understand it. Wouldn't it be better to pick any of the top four guilds—even ours over rolling in the muck with a dump like the Justice Guild—and work comfortably?"
"That's true, but..."
I felt Kang Han flinch slightly beside me.
"I know you've invested a huge chunk of your lotto winnings into the Justice Guild so far. But if you just sign with us, I'm willing to hand over that amount as a signing bonus right away. Separate from your salary, living stipend, and dungeon raid rewards, of course."
It was an enormous contract offer.
If I didn't know this world's end, I'd have grabbed her hand on the spot.
So she must not understand why I don't even twitch an eyebrow at her proposal.
"Is there some other reason? Something that makes you have to stay with the Justice Guild?"
It wasn't a simple question.
This sister's got good instincts.
But I answered lightly, pretending not to catch the implication.
"I owe the Justice Guild. A debt of the heart."
"Hm, a debt of the heart."
"Actually, every citizen of Korea owes the Justice Guild something."
They saved the country that was on the brink of total collapse when the gates opened.
In fact, plenty of countries did vanish from the map.
"But it's infuriating how everyone treats the Justice Guild like bottom-feeders despite that."
"That's because of Guild Master Kang Young-won's reckless dungeon raids..."
I raised one hand to cut off Yu Myeong-hwa.
I might really explode if I heard more.
It was a misunderstanding that would clear up eventually, but knowing the future made it even more frustrating.
"And you're just trying to recruit me to turn me into one of the Camellia's parts, right?"
"Not exactly a part, but yes, I hope you'd join as a guild member and take on a key role."
"Same difference."
"I like your honesty, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
Yu Myeong-hwa's favorability had risen.
Good news.
I'd need the Camellia Guild's help down the line, and someone with a clear like-dislike personality like Yu Myeong-hwa was better to win over early.
She didn't seem to hate straightforward talk, so I could be even more casual.
"But honestly, I'm not the type to be some accessory anywhere."
"Hahaha!"
Yu Myeong-hwa finally burst into loud laughter.
Seeing her even prettier face smiling, I stated it clearly once more.
"Sorry, but I have no intention of joining the Camellia Guild. I decline your offer."
I'd said my piece.
"Oh, and. I'll be super busy for a while, so don't keep calling. I won't pick up."
With that, I lightly pushed Kang Han's shoulder toward the parking lot and turned away.
Then, once more, that embarrassing sound rang out.
Surprised, I turned back to see Yu Myeong-hwa's favorability had risen again.
What? Does she like being rejected?
While I was flustered by this new type of person, Yu Myeong-hwa flashed her signature charming smile and said,
"See you again, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
She's pretty, but kinda weird, that sister.
For some reason, Kang Han wasn't moving well, so I shoved his back firmly.
Can't hang out with someone like that.
You'll get tainted.
Big trouble.
Back at the guild headquarters in Jongno, I called out to Lee Yu-chan as he headed up to his room.
"Lee Yu-chan."
"Yes."
"I accepted your apology for today, but you know that doesn't mean you did well, right?"
"......I know."
Lee Yu-chan replied glumly.
At least he showed signs of reflection, so no need for a long lecture.
"School violence is bad. Next time something like this happens, don't fight back—go to a teacher. They've already been flipped once, so they won't brush it off like this time. Tell Lee Yu-eul the same."
"Yes, I won't let it happen again......"
"Beat them outside."
"Huh?"
"What's with the 'huh'? When they piss you off, remember it and beat them in a dungeon or training ground later."
Same as what I'd told that Kwak Ji-hyeon kid—once you're outside the school's fence, minors or not, you're just Awakeners.
Fights and conflicts that happen then fall under the Awakener Association, not the school.
And the Association is lenient with Hunter fights, generally not interfering.
Unless too many people get involved.
For example, if guilds brawl, they mediate since either side winning hurts national power.
"As long as you don't hit them on school grounds."
"W-Well, yeah."
"And don't ever forget today's incident."
Lee Yu-chan's big eyes looked at me.
"One incident like this won't change the school vibe. Outside school's a given."
The world doesn't change that easily without massive events or accidents.
"But no need to mope. Just get stronger."
In this survival-of-the-fittest, rank-obsessed world, the strong reign supreme.
"So your precious people never get disrespected again. Got it?"
Lee Yu-chan nodded.
At the same time, his favorability bubble changed.
Cute kid.
Watching the door close with a quick click made me chuckle.
"Thank you."
Kang Han suddenly spoke up beside me.
"Not going to the Camellia Guild?"
Half-joking.
But Kang Han looked serious.
"I learned a lot today. Maybe you're the one who's fit to be guild master, not me."
Oh.
Kang Han making a joke.
I played along, exaggerating my horror.
"Don't say scary stuff! Just imagining it is nightmare fuel!"
Then, something unexpected happened.
The alert sound was the same.
The favorability rising too.
But at that moment, another phrase appeared beside it.
A sort of keyword had been added.
But what surprised me more was something else.
"Let's do even better from now on."
The faint smile on Kang Han's face.
Tomorrow was finally the day the training grounds would be complete.
The guild's weekday morning routine was always the same.
Send off the twins to school, and Kang Han and Jang Su-ho head to the mountains for training.
Leaving me and Han Ji-seong behind.
"Come to think of it, I haven't seen him yesterday or today."
He'd rarely even left his room before that.
Something about being busy with research.
"It's boring."
Hating the excessive quiet, I played some music on my phone.
One song played.
A weird sensation tickled the back of my neck.
Two songs.
No, something's up.
Three songs.
I snapped open the eyes I'd forcibly closed and jumped up from the sofa I'd been lying on.
"Argh! My bad premonitions are never wrong!"
That's why it pissed me off even more!
I grabbed just my phone and headed down to the second floor where Han Ji-seong's room was.
Yeah, my intuition could be off this time.
I politely knocked first.
Knock knock.
"Han Ji-seong-ssi, you alive?"
No response.
Maybe he's in the bathroom.
I waited a bit, then knocked again.
Still nothing.
"Damn it."
This time I called him.
"I hear the ringtone."
A faint phone ring came from beyond the door, but Han Ji-seong didn't pick up.
'Never thought I'd use this.'
I pulled the master key from my phone wallet—the one I'd gotten on moving day.
Issued to all guild members for emergencies.
After hesitating till the end, I tapped the card key, and it beeped as the lock opened.
"I'm coming in."
The moment I announced loudly and opened the door, I saw Han Ji-seong.
Collapsed unconscious on the floor.
And that's when I realized the room was freezing.
Cold enough for my breath to fog.
Han Ji-seong hadn't just collapsed from overwork.
This was the look of someone on the verge of rampage from Dark Addiction symptoms.